How the #SelfLove Movement Makes Me Feel
Oh goodness, where to start!? Middle of three sisters. Mother to two daughters. Former college athlete in a sport that required teeny tiny bathing suits, often feeling as though you were on parade.
I want to stress that I’ve always been an advocate for not finding your worth on a scale or in a mirror. I see the harm it causes whether you’re 13 or 70-years-old. I actually posted on the topic years ago.
But I’m also an advocate for health, discipline and respect for the body you’ve been given. And at the risk of ruffling some feathers, I take issue with some of the messages fueling the #SelfLove movement – and the fact that they appear to promote complacency. I don’t deny they are bringing women together. I’ve read the comments from those who finally feel confident in their skin. But for others, like me, they make me feel ashamed for wanting to lose baby weight. And hesitant to share a picture of myself in a bathing suit I never thought I’d wear again. I’ll admit my postpartum body looks very similar to my body pre-kids. And because so, it feels as though I’m not allowed in the club although my body is VERY much postpartum x 3.
[PAUSE. You can most likely tell right now if this post is going to inspire you or enrage you. If it’s the latter, stop reading and go do something to productively move your life in the direction YOU want to take it. If you’ve been feeling uncomfortable with a lot of the current messaging around postpartum bodies because you want to diet and exercise – then keep reading).
Last month I signed on to a year-long partnership focused on living a healthier style – one that requires me to share the things that seem unpopular right now: postpartum weight-loss and meal plans built around giving your body XYZ which leads to losing X amount of weight. My industry (and success as a result) is built around likes and comments, where the #SelfLove posts are currently King. So imagine my stress-level about sharing content that could seem controversial to my main audience: mothers in their 30-40s.
But here’s the kicker. I think eating healthy is important. I think exercise can change your life for the better. And I think weight does matter. You can’t sit in a cardiologist’s office without seeing a weight chart on every wall. Your heart was built to support a body at a healthy weight – that’s just science. (Note: this same chart also highlights the dangers of being underweight). So I’m not going to apologize for saying that one of my goals this year was to lose weight (a very healthy, and reasonable amount of weight).
So let’s get ahead of some questions that are surely brewing:
What’s the partnership?
I’m working with Profile by Sanford for the entire calendar year to reach my three main goals: 1. Lose 10lbs (putting me at my pre-baby weight) 2. Increase my energy levels with healthy food choices 3. Learn to meal plan, grocery shop and cook in a way that sets my entire family up for healthy lifelong habits related to food.
I’m contracted for 1 Instagram post and 1 round of Instagram stories per month. That’s it. So this blog post is not sponsored – I just feel passionate on the subject. In exchange, I’m receiving compensation and truly following the plan. This means I’m meeting with a Profile coach on a weekly basis, following a meal plan and eating the Profile foods (like shakes and bars). I don’t usually disclose this much detail around partnerships – but I want to get ahead of any naysers who think this is just another “ad” and I’m not really doing the program.
I started the program on December 29. I’ve lost 5 pounds and have learned a boatload of new recipes. My husband actually ate and enjoyed cauliflower rice the other evening – so yeah, I’d say it’s been successful so far.
What’s your weight-loss goal?
When I started the program I wanted to lose 10 pounds – no more, no less. This put me smack dab in the middle of the healthy BMI charts. It’s what I weighed pre-Crichton, but not as a result of a healthy lifestyle. I told my coach that I weight XYZ pounds this time last year, but only because it was a very difficult and stressful time in our lives. I was not healthy. I liked the way I looked – and the weight felt right for my body structure – but I want to be that weight by eating healthy and exercising.
So yes, I step on a scale every other morning. A scale that is tucked away in our master bathroom so the girls don’t see me step on it on a regular basis, if you must know. Because I’m well aware that their little minds are sponges and I want to ensure they absorb messaging around their bodies in a healthy way.
In layman’s terms:
Working to be at a healthy weight for your overall energy levels, heart health and confidence = solid approach.
Yo-yo dieting to be at a weight that makes you look good in a dress you want to wear at a wedding and/or to attract attention from the opposite sex = problematic.
The scale also tracks your hydration. So if you’re a busy mom like me and you allow yourself like two sips of water every 12 hours this will blow your mind.
Are you worried about the negative affects diet-culture could have on your children and your participation in it?
I’m worried about 1 billion things related to our culture and how it could negatively affect our children. I am however, not worried in the slightest about my current meal plan. Now, my children see me drink a shake in the morning, a healthy breakfast and a bar all before eating a healthy lunch by 12:30 p.m. Before, they saw me drink three cups of coffee and binge eat Oreos in the pantry at 2 p.m. when I realized I hadn’t taken the time to feed myself.
So yeah – no concerns with my new approach.
It was important for me to take the time to speak to this beyond the word count an Instagram post allows. My main goal with sharing my life on Instagram is to bring women together. Some of the women I respect most in this industry have a different take on the #SelfLove and #BodyPositive movements and I’m glad for it. They will speak to a group of women that I won’t reach. And I’ll speak to another.
For the last five years I’ve been pregnant more often than not. During those pregnancies my body was healthiest with the extra weight of another human. Well, now I’m done having babies – and as cute as this little baby is my body is healthiest (and I’m happiest) if I do the work to shed those extra pounds.
That’s MY approach to #SelfLove.
If you’re curious about the Profile program and if it could be a fit for you. You can learn more here. You can use the code “MEGHAN” for $100 off your membership fee.
Hannah says
So proud. I couldn’t agree more with everything you said. I’m with you ?. Excited to see how you like this program.